Parks and Rec user fee increases proposed
The Whitefish Parks and Recreation Department has proposed a number of fee increases for youth recreation programs and park facility user fees to offset a funding shortfall in the department.
A public hearing at the City Council meeting tonight will be held before the council votes on the expanded fee schedule.
After a recent budget review showed that revenue coming in from various user fees wasn’t enough to cover expenses, City Manager Chuck Stearns directed the department to evaluate all facility and program fees.
That review showed several fees either didn’t cover the cost of services provided or weren’t consistent with fees in similar municipalities, Stearns said in a staff report to the council. Fee increases are proposed for the before-and-after school program, summer day camp, youth basketball, youth tennis and Sk7fish programs. Most program fees will increase by about $10.
City Beach boat launch fees will go up, too, with a $10 increase for season passes.
User fees for parks and facilities will increase varying amounts. A complete fee schedule is available in the council packet on the city’s website, www.cityofwhitefish.org.
The council has three other public hearings on tonight’s agenda:
n A conditional-use permit request from the Whitefish School District for a greenhouse with classrooms, along with a working farm and outdoor classroom near the high school.
n A proposed ordinance rezoning 0.2 acres at 1436 West Lakeshore Drive from county to city one-family residential zoning.
n A proposed ordinance amending zoning regulations to add recreational guides and outfitters to the list of permitted uses in the secondary business district.
The council will discuss a funding shortfall for the City Hall and parking structure project due to the removal of contaminated soil at the construction site. The soil removal cost $159,502. The council must at some point authorize a change-order to pay Martel Construction $123,641 and decide how to restore the project’s contingency fund.
A work session at 5 p.m. will focus primarily on the city’s preliminary budget. The regular meeting begins at 7:10 p.m. Both meetings are at the interim City Hall, 1005 Baker Ave.
Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by email at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.